Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Relief loosened the knot in Xing Shuwei’s chest. She said nothing more and trotted off to find Madam Xu.
Zhang Mingan had not wanted to return to the residence of the General of Distant Pacification. Only after both Xing Shuwei and Madam Xu urged him did he finally go back.
His injuries were severe; the flesh across his entire back was a bloody ruin.
Stitching his wounds alone took Madam Xu more than half a shichen.
Under the effects of the anesthetic powder, Zhang Mingan had fallen asleep by the time his wounds were dressed.
In the courtyard outside the bedchamber, Xing Shuwei brought Madam Xu a basin of water to wash her hands.
Qiutong held out the banknotes to her.
Xing Shuwei said, “This is payment for that earlier shipment of medicinal herbs. Please, Madam, you must accept it.”
Madam Xu dried her hands on a handkerchief and said earnestly, “Miss, neither my husband nor I have the authority to decide whether to take it.
“Our employer will be coming to Qizhou. Why don’t you give it directly to him when you meet him?
“If I disobey his orders on my own initiative, I’m afraid I’ll be punished.”
Xing Shuwei replied, “You’ve met the General of Distant Pacification now. From here on, your employer will be doing business with him, so there is no need for me to involve myself any further.
“But I was the one who bought that first shipment of medicinal herbs. I know you meant to help the soldiers in the army camp.
“Still, I hate owing anyone. Please accept the money, Madam, or I won’t be able to eat or sleep in peace.”
“Besides, this is also what the General of Distant Pacification wants.”
Accepting such a costly shipment of medicinal herbs for nothing might leave Zhang Mingan open to accusations of taking bribes.
Xing Shuwei had thought for a long time about the osmanthus cakes that had appeared at the Xu Residence. They could only be found in the capital.
What if this employer who had yet to show himself was some powerful figure from the capital?
Zhang Mingan had staked his life to earn his military achievements. They should not bear the slightest stain.
Madam Xu looked troubled, but still refused to take the money.
His Lordship had expressly declared that the medicinal herbs were being sent to aid the Qizhou Army free of charge.
How could she accept the banknotes in private?
Seeing her persist, Xing Shuwei told her plainly what she had been thinking.
Madam Xu hesitated, then took the banknotes. “You’ve gone to such lengths for the General of Distant Pacification, Miss.
“I’m sure our employer will understand your thoughtful intentions.
“Then shall I repeat all of this to him exactly as you said it?”
Xing Shuwei fixed her with a pair of dark, shining eyes.
She found Madam Xu’s question very odd. Why ask for her opinion on what she should report to her employer?
On second thought, perhaps the man’s temper was poor and Madam Xu simply did not want to bear the blame.
Xing Shuwei nodded. “If your employer gives you any trouble, tell him to come to me.”
Madam Xu paused, then tucked away the banknotes. “If our employer truly comes to see you, Miss, should he look for you here at the General’s residence, or in Xujiakou Alley?”
Before Xing Shuwei could speak, Qiutong answered first. “Xujiakou Alley, of course.”
Madam Xu nodded and took her leave.
“Let’s go home too,” Xing Shuwei said to Qiutong.
“All right.” Qiutong left the General’s residence with her.
The blazing sun beat down as they walked back to Xujiakou Alley.
As Xing Shuwei walked, she kept glancing around anxiously.
Inevitably, her thoughts returned to Pei Xianjing.
Xujiakou Alley was close to the southern city gate. What would she do if she happened to encounter Pei Xianjing entering the city on the way home?
Lowering her eyes, she looked at the coarse, bloodstained clothes she wore, then touched the single braid hanging over her left shoulder.
Looking as she did now, Pei Xianjing might not recognize her even if they passed shoulder to shoulder, would he?
With that unease dogging her, she made it all the way to their home at the end of the alley.
As they passed the old well, Qiutong called her several times, asking whether they should plant the osmanthus tree the noble heir had given her before anything else. Xing Shuwei did not hear a word.
Once they entered the courtyard, Qiutong bolted the gate. As she bustled around the kitchen, she called through the window, “Miss, why do you look so distracted?
“Didn’t Madam Xu say that the noble heir’s life isn’t in danger?
“After resting and recuperating for a while, he’ll certainly recover.”
“Magistrate Wang also said the enemy commander had been captured alive.
“The enemy suffered a crushing defeat. They won’t dare invade Qizhou again.
“Better days are just ahead, Miss. Why don’t you look happy?”
Qiutong’s voice pulled Xing Shuwei back from her thoughts.
She stepped into the low-roofed kitchen, crouched down on a small stool, and began picking over the wild greens.
“Go outside where it’s cooler, Miss. I’ll take care of everything,” Qiutong said.
Xing Shuwei did not answer that. She merely said, “Qiutong, we should pack our things and run after all.”
“What?” Startled, Qiutong crouched beside her with both flour-coated hands held in the air. “Why do you suddenly want to leave again, Miss?
“Qizhou is about to be safe, and the young master has even become a deputy general in the army camp…
“Besides, even if we are leaving, we have to wait until General Zhang recovers!
“He brought us to Qizhou. Whatever else happens, we can’t simply pick up and leave at a time like this!”
Xing Shuwei said nothing more and concentrated on sorting the wild greens.
It was as if she had never mentioned running away at all.
* * *
At midnight.
Pei Xianjing returned to the Xu Residence with Yelü Bao in custody.
He was wounded all over.
Xu Liangcai extracted the arrowheads and stitched his wounds.
The black battle robe he had removed was soaked through with blood.
His wounds might not have looked as gruesome as Zhang Mingan’s, but every one of them had been aimed at a vital point.
Had any one of them gone another half inch deeper, it would have killed him.
“How is she?” Pei Xianjing asked from where he sat in the chair.
Madam Xu, Wang Julan, stood nearby and reported, “My lord, judging by Miss Xing’s manner, I fear she has already guessed that you are the employer behind us.
“Perhaps she was afraid you might misunderstand, because she made a point of telling me that if you wished to see her, you should go to Xujiakou Alley.”
“However…” Wang Julan changed tack. “She may have a tiny misunderstanding about you, my lord.
“She believes you gave those medicinal herbs to the General of Distant Pacification for free because you wanted to frame him for accepting bribes in secret.”
Xu Liangcai’s hand trembled as he listened.
“Hiss.” Pei Xianjing sucked in a sharp breath.
Wang Julan scowled and smacked Xu Liangcai on the back of the head. “Are you trying to get someone killed? How dare you let your mind wander while treating His Lordship’s wounds?”
Xu Liangcai: “…”
The blow made his hand slip, and the needle went in crooked again.
Pei Xianjing gritted his teeth and forced out, “Aunt Lan, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t hit him.”
“Yes, my lord.” Wang Julan nodded furiously.
Xu Liangcai said, “Honestly, you’re pushing fifty. Have you learned nothing in all those years?
“When have you ever talked romance with me? What do you know about love, that you should go giving His Lordship wild advice?”
“As I see it, Miss Xing can hardly hide from His Lordship fast enough. She’s afraid of him too. How could she possibly want to see him?”
Xu Liangcai’s reasoning was clearly the more reliable of the two.
“You don’t know a damn thing.” This time Wang Julan did not use her hands. She kicked him squarely in the backside instead.
Another stitch went in crooked.
“Enough, enough.” Pei Xianjing’s face was glacial. “Don’t treat me to death between the two of you.
“I’ll go find her myself. She knows medicine too. Her skill must be better than either of yours.”
The couple: “???”
Was that really how it worked?